13 May - August 2021 | VOICES Bi-Monthly Magazine of the University of Technology, Jamaica The College of Business and Management (COBAM), through its School of Business Administration (SOBA), hosted the annual Production and Operations Management (POM) Virtual Conference on May 5, 2021 via Zoom under the theme Workplace Safety and Wellness: The Implications for Employee Productivity in Jamaica. Conference Chair, and Lecturer, COBAM, Mr. Courtney Lawes noted that the Conference aimed to explore the relevance, status and implications of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) legislation on the wellness and productivity in the Jamaican workplace. It also aimed to shed light on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on global productivity, with a particular focus on sport. The Conference formed part of activities to mark the College’s annual Celebration of Excellence. The keynote address at the opening ceremony was delivered by The Honourable Zavia Mayne, MP, Minister of State in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security on behalf of The Hon. Karl Samuda, OJ, MP, Minister of Labour and Social Security. Professor Collin Gyles, Acting President, in his welcome, noted that the Conference was timely in its staging during the observance of World Day for Safety and Health at Work, commemorated on April 25, 2021. He affirmed the University’s unequivocal commitment to “sustainable health, safety and emergency preparedness at the workplace”, particularly with the changes to the workplace brought about by the pandemic, in response to which he noted that UTech, Jamaica has implemented numerous mitigation and safety measures. Professor Gyles also pointed to the University’s significant contribution to the education and training of Occupational Safety and Health professionals through the Bachelor of Science in Occupational Health and Safety programme offered in the School of Public Health and Health Technology, Joint Colleges of Oral Health, Medicine and Veterinary Sciences. “UTech, Jamaica is pleased to be making a significant contribution to the education and training of Occupational Health and Safety professionals who will be pivotal in the rollout and enforcement of the new legislation,” he noted. Dr. Andrea Sutherland, Dean, COBAM, in welcoming participants to the conference also noted the timeliness of the forum. “The pandemic has forced us to acknowledge the many aspects of workplace safety and health,” she noted, indicating that a keen focus has now been placed on the psychological, emotional and social facets of worker health and safety that exist in the workplace.” Workplace Safety and Wellness: The Implications for Employee Productivity in Jamaica Speaking to efforts by the Government to increase productivity in the economy, Minister Mayne gave an update on the Occupational Safety and Health Bill. The Bill is slated to repeal previous legislation which is limited in scope and workplace coverage, and replace these with a modern, comprehensive legislation that “establishes modern safety and health standards for all workplaces.” Minister Mayne noted that the Bill is now being prepared for presentation to the Cabinet, and reported that the legislation will be passed in short order. The Minister’s address also underscored the need for a culture of health and safety in the Jamaican workplace. “We must all recognize our collective responsibility to strive towards eliminating occupational accidents, injuries and illnesses by ensuring that all workplaces are safe and healthy,” he said. Citing statistics from the International Labour Organization and multiple global research publications, Minister Mayne noted the correlation between the significant increase in productivity observed in workplaces that have adopted a culture of safe and healthy work practices. “Holistic wellbeing is a key factor in driving productivity; health and safety is a necessary condition for wellbeing in the place of work,” the Minister noted, indicating that wellness reduced absenteeism and sub-par job performance. Minister Mayne pointed to a few of the consequences of ignoring health and safety best practices, which he noted were, contrary to popular belief, costlier than ensuring safe work environments. These consequences included excessive overtime payments, incident-triggered training programmes, high employee turnover, loss of production time, workers’ compensation payments, repairs to damages, warranty costs and worker downtime due to illness or injury. Mr. Courtney Lawes Honourable Zavia Mayne, MP COBAM Hosts Virtual Conference on Workplace Safety, Wellness and Sport Productivity
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